Elastomeric seal bag protector

Abstract

A downhole tool includes an electric submersible pump to pump a well fluid to a surface of a borehole. The downhole tool includes a motor to power the electric submersible pump and a seal section to protect the motor from the well fluid. The seal section includes an elastomeric bag and a clamp at each end of the elastomeric bag to secure the elastomeric bag. The seal section includes an elastomeric bag protector secured around each clamp, wherein the elastomeric bag protector extends axially beyond a respective clamp to surround a tapered portion of the elastomeric bag above and below the clamp, and wherein the elastomeric bag protector has a sloped inner diameter that matches a profile of the tapered portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A downhole tool comprising:
 an electric submersible pump to pump a well fluid to a surface of a borehole; 
 a motor to power the electric submersible pump; and 
 a seal section to protect the motor from the well fluid, the seal section comprising,
 an elastomeric bag; 
 a clamp at each end of the elastomeric bag to secure the elastomeric bag; and 
 an elastomeric bag protector secured around each clamp, wherein the elastomeric bag protector extends axially beyond a respective clamp to surround a tapered portion of the elastomeric bag above and below the clamp, and wherein the elastomeric bag protector has a sloped inner diameter that matches a profile of the tapered portion, and wherein an outer diameter of the elastomeric bag protector includes one or more grooves on the outside surface of the elastomeric bag protector. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The downhole tool of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more grooves are axially extended relative to the elastomeric bag protector. 
     
     
       3. The downhole tool of  claim 2 , further comprising a housing to enclose the seal section. 
     
     
       4. The downhole tool of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more grooves define a plurality of passages for the well fluid to traverse a surface of the elastomeric bag protector between the elastomeric bag protector and the housing. 
     
     
       5. The downhole tool of  claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric bag protector includes a cutout and a crimp on the clamp mates with the cutout. 
     
     
       6. The downhole tool of  claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric bag protector includes a ring groove extending circumferentially around the elastomeric bag protector. 
     
     
       7. The downhole tool of  claim 6 , further comprising an elastomeric ring seated inside the ring groove to secure the elastomeric bag protector around the respective clamp. 
     
     
       8. A system comprising:
 a downhole tool to be lowered into a borehole, the downhole tool comprising,
 an electric submersible pump to pump a well fluid to a surface of the borehole; 
 a motor to power the electric submersible pump; and 
 a seal section to protect the motor from the well fluid, the seal section comprising,
 an elastomeric bag; 
 a clamp at each end of the elastomeric bag to secure the elastomeric bag; and 
 an elastomeric bag protector secured around each clamp, wherein the elastomeric bag protector extends axially beyond a respective clamp to surround a tapered portion of the elastomeric bag above and below the clamp, and wherein the elastomeric bag protector has a sloped inner diameter that matches a profile of the tapered portion, wherein an outer diameter of each elastomeric bag protector includes a number of grooves. 
 
 
 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the downhole tool comprises a housing to enclose the seal section. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the number of grooves define a plurality of passages for the well fluid to traverse a surface of the elastomeric bag protector between the elastomeric bag protector and the housing. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the elastomeric bag protector includes a cutout and a crimp on the clamp mates with the cutout. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the elastomeric bag protector includes a ring groove extending circumferentially around the elastomeric bag protector. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the downhole tool comprises an elastomeric ring seated inside the ring groove to secure the elastomeric bag protector around the respective clamp. 
     
     
       14. A method for assembling an electric submersible pump assembly, comprising,
 coupling a motor to an electric submersible pump; 
 positioning a seal section between the motor and the electric submersible pump to protect the motor from well fluid, the seal section including an elastomeric bag; 
 attaching a clamp at each end of the elastomeric bag to secure the elastomeric bag; and 
 covering each clamp with an elastomeric bag protector such that the elastomeric bag protector extends axially beyond a respective clamp to surround a tapered portion of the elastomeric bag above and below the clamp, wherein the elastomeric bag protector has a sloped inner diameter that matches a profile of the tapered portion and wherein an outer diameter of the elastomeric bag protector includes one or more grooves on the outside surface of the elastomeric bag protector. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the electric submersible pump assembly is part of a downhole tool, wherein the method comprises:
 lowering the downhole tool into a borehole; and 
 pumping a well fluid using the electric submersible pump to a surface of the borehole. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the downhole tool comprises a housing to enclose the seal section. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein the number of grooves define a plurality of passages for the well fluid to traverse a surface of the elastomeric bag protector between the elastomeric bag protector and the housing. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the elastomeric bag protector includes a cutout and a crimp to mate with the cutout. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the elastomeric bag protector includes a ring groove extending circumferentially around the elastomeric bag protector, wherein an elastomeric ring seated inside the ring groove to secure the elastomeric bag protector around the respective clamp.